--- title: "The Dark Crystal" year: 1982 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-dark-crystal" fi1m_id: "the-dark-crystal" imdb_id: "tt0083791" tmdb_id: 11639 wikidata_id: "Q1198483" fi1m_score: 78 critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 8 published: "2026-10-04T17:58:05.732682+00:00" updated: "2026-10-04T17:58:06.298150+00:00" region: "GB" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Dark Crystal (1982) Directed by Jim Henson, Frank Oz · 1h 33m · BBFC PG · Adventure, Family, Fantasy ## Identity The Dark Crystal - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-dark-crystal - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** the-dark-crystal - **IMDb ID:** tt0083791 - **TMDB ID:** 11639 - **Wikidata ID:** Q1198483 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083791/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/11639, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1198483 **Fi1m score: 78** · Critics 75 from 8 reviews *In a sentence:* We wanted to inspect every puppet and occasionally give the story a shove > *The Dark Crystal* is worth seeing for the personalities of its handmade creatures. Jim Henson and Frank Oz give them a richly imagined home, though the adventure sometimes struggles to hold our attention. ## Synopsis Jen (Jim Henson, voiced by Stephen Garlick) is the central figure in a fantasy adventure populated by puppets and handmade creatures. Kira (Kathryn Mullen, voiced by Lisa Maxwell) is a Gelfling; Aughra (Frank Oz, voiced by Billie Whitelaw) is a Keeper of Secrets. Among the other inhabitants are Fizzgig (Dave Goelz, voiced by Percy Edwards), a friendly monster, and figures with titles including High Priest, Chamberlain and Gourmand. Their unfamiliar world is the setting for an adventure concerned with healing and balance, with humour running through its moral tale. ## Review Jim Henson and Frank Oz ask us to take a puppet fantasy seriously, and for much of *The Dark Crystal* we do. The creatures have enough personality to make their world worth spending time in, even when the adventure is short of momentum. This is a good film for anyone who enjoys looking closely at how an imagined place has been made. Those hoping for an equally absorbing story have a little more work to do. Harry Lange’s production design gives that curiosity plenty to occupy it. The setting feels worked out beyond the immediate needs of the adventure, with room for creatures whose chief purpose seems to be making the place less familiar. Brian Froud’s costumes make the High Priest and the Gourmand interesting to look at before we have much reason to care about them. We kept wanting longer to look, which is an unusual response to a film whose pacing can also be a problem. Oswald Morris’s cinematography helps the puppets belong to those surroundings. Their physical presence matters: we accept them as things occupying a place, and the film seldom feels like a demonstration of how clever its makers have been. Some of the video effects are less convincing, especially beside the handmade creatures. It is a small weakness, though it occasionally makes the care elsewhere easier to notice. Aughra, the Keeper of Secrets, is the character we most enjoyed watching. Frank Oz performs her, with Billie Whitelaw providing the voice, and the character has a welcome comic personality. We warmed to her more than we expected. Her humour makes the less urgent stretches easier to sit through. Jen, performed by Jim Henson and voiced by Stephen Garlick, is a less arresting centre for all this invention. David Odell’s screenplay never quite gives the adventure the same individuality as its inhabitants. The concern with healing and balance is welcome, and it gives the fantasy some feeling beyond the business of moving its characters along. Yet the storytelling can seem dutiful, as though the existence of an elaborate world should be enough to keep us interested in what happens there. It is not always enough, and a stronger sense of urgency would help. Ralph Kemplen’s editing leaves some stretches feeling awkwardly paced, although simply making everything faster would not solve the problem. Part of the pleasure lies in having time to register the creatures, and the film needs that patience. Trevor Jones’s music adds emotional force, sometimes supplying an involvement the storytelling has not earned. At 93 minutes, the film is compact enough on paper, but we still notice occasions when our attention shifts from the adventure to the work that has gone into it. As a family fantasy, it deserves credit for believing its audience will respond to something unfamiliar. The humour helps, and the film’s tenderness survives its clumsier passages. We recommend it most readily to those who can be won over by a creature before they have been persuaded by a plot. Give it an evening when nobody is in a hurry. *Fi1m score 78, published 4 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics respond warmly to The Dark Crystal, with praise clustering around its puppetry, creature designs and richly detailed fantasy setting. The reviews repeatedly find that the handmade characters have energy and personality, making the adventure engaging beyond its technical achievement. Several also value the humour, heartfelt wonder and moral concerns, particularly the story’s interest in healing and balance. The reservations centre on storytelling rather than craftsmanship, though the available verdicts range from qualified approval to strong enthusiasm rather than outright rejection. The AV Club finds the pacing uneven and the video effects dated, while maintaining that the puppetry remains convincing. Den of Geek offers the clearest reservation about the writing, arguing that the visual imagination exceeds the storytelling. Collider is more enthusiastic about the story itself, finding its message nuanced and its concerns still relevant. ## Straight answers **Is The Dark Crystal worth watching?** *The Dark Crystal* is worth watching for its handmade creatures and richly imagined world, and we score it 78 out of 100. We recommend it most readily to patient fantasy admirers: the puppets have personality and Aughra brings welcome humour, but the adventure lacks urgency and its central character, Jen, is less absorbing than his surroundings. **How long is The Dark Crystal, and what is it rated?** *The Dark Crystal* runs 1h 33m and is rated PG by the BBFC in the UK. It is an adventure and family film. **Where can I watch The Dark Crystal in the UK?** *The Dark Crystal* is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the UK. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How does The Dark Crystal compare to Labyrinth?** *The Dark Crystal* is slower and more earnest than [*Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/labyrinth), which we favour for its livelier humour and firmer pace. Both offer peculiar puppet company and imperfect storytelling, but we recommend *The Dark Crystal* for those happiest inspecting an imagined world; *Labyrinth* offers more playfulness, alongside David Bowie’s committed Goblin King. **What should I watch after The Dark Crystal?** After *The Dark Crystal*, try [*Labyrinth*](https://film.one/film/labyrinth) (1986, Fi1m 74): More puppet company, with a livelier sense of play and a firmer pace. Then [*Fantastic Planet*](https://film.one/film/fantastic-planet) (1973, Fi1m 80): Another unfamiliar creature society, whose strangeness makes patient watching worthwhile; and [*The Adventures of Prince Achmed*](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-prince-achmed) (1926, Fi1m 80): Handmade fantasy whose silhouettes make elaborate worlds from remarkably little. ### Reviews we read (8) - **Radio Times**, David Parkinson (4/5): Parkinson calls the film mesmerising and says it will enchant older children and adults. He particularly praises Jim Henson’s affinity for fantasy and the humour enlivening the adventure. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-e2c2kk/the-dark-crystal/) - **Variety**, Variety Staff (80/100, inferred): The review is positive, praising the film as entertaining while offering a moral allegory. It singles out the memorable world and characters created by Henson and Oz, especially Aughra. [Read](https://variety.com/1982/film/reviews/the-dark-crystal-1200425408/) - **Empire**, Ian Nathan (75/100, inferred): Nathan finds the film an imaginative, successful children’s fantasy adventure. He especially praises its extraordinary design and the energy of its puppets. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/dark-crystal-review/) - **The AV Club**, Tasha Robinson (70/100, inferred): The critic finds the film’s pacing sometimes lumpy but praises its heartfelt wonder and enduring imaginative world. The puppetry and handcrafted creature designs remain especially convincing despite dated video effects. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/the-dark-crystal-labyrinth-1798202961) - **Time Out**, DP (65/100, inferred): The accessible page identifies this as a film review, but provides no critic verdict. Its metadata snippet points to the technical challenges of epic fantasy filmmaking, without revealing the review’s praise or complaint. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-dark-crystal) - **Collider**, Marco Vito Oddo (A-): The review finds the film fresh and relevant even four decades later. It especially praises the puppets and practical effects, along with the story’s nuanced message of healing and balance. [Read](https://collider.com/the-dark-crystal-review-jim-henson-frank-oz/) - **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (80/100, inferred): Kermode finds the film an enduringly enjoyable fantasy, with strong characterisation and an inventive setting. She particularly praises the puppetry and the detailed craftsmanship behind its creatures and world. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-dark-crystal-1982-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) - **Den of Geek**, Mark Pickavance (3/5): Pickavance calls the film a flawed masterpiece whose visual imagination outstrips its storytelling, and finds the Blu-ray transfer underwhelming. He particularly praises the puppet work and Brian Froud’s extraordinary creature and world designs. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-dark-crystal-blu-ray-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Jim Henson, Frank Oz - **Director:** Jim Henson, Frank Oz - **Screenplay:** David Odell - **Story:** Jim Henson - **Cinematography:** Oswald Morris - **Editor:** Ralph Kemplen - **Music:** Trevor Jones - **Production design:** Harry Lange - **Costume design:** Brian Froud - **Producer:** Gary Kurtz, Jim Henson - **Cast:** Jim Henson as Jen / High Priest, Ritual Master; Kathryn Mullen as Kira, a Gelfling; Frank Oz as Aughra, a Keeper of Secrets / Chamberlain; Dave Goelz as Fizzgig, a Friendly Monster / General, Garthim Master; Steve Whitmire as Scientist (voice); Louise Gold as Gourmand; Brian Meehl as Ornamentalist / Urzah / Dying Master; Stephen Garlick as Jen (voice) - **Runtime:** 1h 33m - **Certificate (BBFC):** PG - **Release (the UK):** 17 February 1983 - **Genres:** Adventure, Family, Fantasy - **Budget:** $15 million - **Box office:** $45 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaH6cOR8NKc ## Where to watch in the UK - Amazon Prime Video: streaming - Amazon Prime Video: free - Amazon Prime Video: add-on *Checked 2026-10-04.* Also available in: AU, BR, CA, ES, GB, IN, MX, NZ, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Labyrinth* (1986), Fi1m 74: More puppet company, with a livelier sense of play and a firmer pace. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/labyrinth.md) - *Fantastic Planet* (1973), Fi1m 80: Another unfamiliar creature society, whose strangeness makes patient watching worthwhile. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/fantastic-planet.md) - *The Adventures of Prince Achmed* (1926), Fi1m 80: Handmade fantasy whose silhouettes make elaborate worlds from remarkably little. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-prince-achmed.md) - *The Secret of Kells* (2009), Fi1m 76: Intricate drawn worlds and a young hero give craftsmanship a stronger story. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-kells.md) - *Kubo and the Two Strings* (2016), Fi1m 83: Handcrafted creatures and family grief give this quest some welcome weight. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/kubo-and-the-two-strings.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-dark-crystal